Fig. 210.—Dunfermline Abbey. Details.
The edifice occupies a lofty and commanding situation, from which the ground falls away on the west and south sides. The monastic buildings stood on the south side of the nave at a considerably lower level than the church. Of these structures, as is shown by the dark walls on the Plan, considerable remains still exist. The ground between the dark walls and the church has, in recent years, been levelled up, the outer portions of the monastic buildings serving as retaining walls. With the exception of these outer walls, the site of the monastery is thus buried. The refectory stood on the south side of the cloister, and the whole length and height of its south and west walls still exist. There is also a small portion of the return of its north wall, adjoining the west gable wall. Indications of its east wall also exist, thus enabling its dimensions to be fixed at 103 feet in length by 34 feet in width. The south wall ([Fig. 215]) was divided into seven bays, and in six of these there are lofty two-light windows ([Fig. 216]). The eastern bay is occupied by the pulpit or reading-place, from which one of the brethren read aloud during meals. This place, which occupies the whole of one bay, is about 15 feet long, and is corbelled outwards on a cusped arch (see [Fig. 215.]) about 4 feet 6 inches wide. It is lighted from the outside by two windows, which have mullions and tracery, still entire, flush with the face of the wall. On the side next the hall there are two lofty openings.
Adjoining the refectory on the south-west is a large tower, beneath which runs a public road, called St. Catherine’s Wynd, through a “pend” or archway, whence the building is called the “Pend Tower.” The outside of the refectory and “Pend Tower” (see [Fig. 216.]) is very
Fig. 211.—Dunfermline Abbey. Triforium and Clerestory.
imposing, with the simple row of lofty buttresses and windows along the top. The west gable wall of the refectory ([Fig. 217]) is still entire, and has a large window of seven lights. The tracery of this